Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-04-29

1t is reported that young blacksmith in
Louisville, Ky, has discovered a new proc
ess of hardening and tempering steel, rem
dering IL far superior to that treated ac-
cOrding to former methods At test of
its quality, a drill made of this new steel
penetrated in 40 minutes steel safe plate
warranted to resist any burglar drill for
twelve hours. A pen-knife blade temper
ed by this new process cut the stem of a
steel key readily and, with the same blade,
the inventor shaved the hairs on his arm.
The discoyerer of this new process of tenn
pering steel claims 10 be able to convert
iron into steel by a new process at small
expense, and also to make steel plates so
elastic and hard as to turn a ball fired from
the heaviest gun ever constructed. A com
pany, it is reported to push the new dis
covery and make the most of it has been
Incorporated That such a discovery has
been made is not incredible The ancients
had method Of tempering copper, render
ing it equal if not superior, to steel which
to us is unknown. If it shall prove true
that such process of increasing the hard
ness and, at the same time, the elasticity of
steel has been discovered, it will have great
effect on naval armament and the construc-
ton of works of military defence.
How the sun puts out the fire is thus ex
planned " If a small room has large win
dow facing the west or southwest, it is
found that the afternoon sun puts out the
fire, especially in spring, when the sky is
clear and the sun is low The reason is.
that at this time of the day the fire is often
allowed to get dull, and the suns rays warm
and rarely the air in the room much as
the fire warns the air passing over it up
the chimney Hence the draught ceases,
and the fire goes out. To remedy the in
convenience, open the door or the window,
TO let warm air out and cold in.
Petroleum which will inhaIne at a less
temperature than 11j Fahrenheit fire test,
or flash at a temperature of less than 100
| Fahrenheit is unsafe for house, lighting
| There are now good instruments for test
ing, says the Independent, and there is no
real need for paying for special oils. Acct
dents from explosion are now exceedingly
rare in those states which have stringent
laws
A plodding German has accomplished the
task of counting the hairs of the human
! head--red, black, brown and blonde The
! human hair varies in thickness from one
two hundred and fftieth to the six hun
dredth of an inch. In four heads of hair
Of equal weight, the red one contains about
! SO,OOO halrs the black lO5, wv, the brown
l09, 900 and the blonde 10000
NJ Deprez, who has lately been conduct
ing for the Rothschilds experiments in
transmission of force by electricity, re
ports successful progress. By means OF
one generating machine aud one receiving
machine 80 horsepower can be Transmitted
through u circle of - miles, or in a straight
line through 81 miles, being available al
any point.
Nervous people will be pleased to know
that the danger from lightning is from
three TO five times greater than it was 81
years ago This is due, says DR.. Andres
to the increased electrical intensity of tn,
atmosphere, which is induced by the con
tinual evolution of steam and smoke.
The smallest circular saw in use is disl
about the size of Spanish sixpence. 1t i
used in cutting the Sits in gold pens. j
about as thick as ordinary paper, and re
wolves 1000 times per minute.
BY mixing chloride of zinc with pape
pulp during its manufacture, the paper i
made SO tough that it can be used for max
ing boxes, combs, roofing and boots.